Engine Management Light - Please help

[monkey73]

Hi all,

I've searched the forums and as I dont have a Vag Com and no warranty - just need a bit of extra help/advice before I take it to the garage (or not).....

Have a 52 plate 1.2 petrol ibiza with no mods and the engine management light came on yesterday when I set off for work.

The engine sort of stuggles/shudders when it's just idling (like when stuck at lights etc) and stalls unless I give the accelorator a bit of a push. The engine light flashes slightly before staying on constantly again.
Then when I drive off it shudders slightly again, before being fine also sometimes shudders slightly if I try accelerating hard.

Other than that seems to be fine, no fumes, revs look ok and no drop in speed.

From what I've read I gather it's prob the spark plugs / coil packs... what do you think?

If so are they easy to replace myself? Can I just get them from Halfrauds? Is it expensive?
Can I call my breakdown service to do it (even though the car still drives)?

Will I be ok driving it, till it get's fixed???



I know I should try and get someone to do a diagnostic on it etc. but would like to try and do something myself first if possible.

Sorry for the essay, but I'm getting a bit fed up with the car at the mo - just had to replace the drivers side window modulator today for the 2nd time !
Huge thanks.

Robb.

 

[kriso]

My parents' 02 Ibiza had the engine warning light on and when took to garage they said it was the injectors that needed cleaning. Could explain why it is stuttering a bit at idle. Maybe put some of that Redex stuff in and take it for a blast to clean it out.

 

[Nath.]

coil pack like you say, although I don't think the light comes on when the coil pack goes

or one of the many sensors that the ECU monitors to keep things running as they should be

what's the mileage on the car ?

the 1.2 has a nasty habit of jumping the timing chain a couple of teeth and giving the symptoms you are reporting, sometimes they jump loads of teeth and won't start at all, this seems to happen at 50k miles or there abouts

good luck, hope it's cheep for ya

 

[Guinness]

nath shhh mines at 52k if it jumps tomorow I will be blaming u

 

[monkey73]

Thanks for the suggestions, only got 30k on the clock and belts seem to be fine.

Tried Redex today, and though it runs a bit smoother, it's still shuddering.... Hmmmm.. Hoping to get a garage to look at it tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[monkey73]

Ok - Back from the garage (AlexLawrie Skoda) nothing fixed, as they say the stealer have to do it !!???

They did a diagnostic quite cheap though and cleaned my car (!!) seems there's two probs:

EGR - control difference - sporadic
Clylinder 2 Misfire - sporadic

Called Seat in Warrington (IMG) and they can't get me in till 15th May !!!

Any ideas if I can do this myself? I'm guessing the coil packs would be fine - but where to get them? and anyone know of anywhere else I could go to get them done ?

Cheers.

 

[andycalvia]

deffo the coil packs....mine did the same...even got replaced under warrenty (bizarrely as the car had done 78K at the time)! I didnt mention anything and just quickly walked away with the invoice saying £0.00 on it! lol!

Get it done asap as you will lose 1/3 of your power if you let it go on (i did and that happened to me)! everything is fine now tho 8k later and still no letter from seat trying 2 charge me for the work! lo!l

 

[monkey73]

Wow - on warranty !! I wish ! I can't even get one of the stealers to actually book me in !!

 

[Guinness]

Might buy me some of this redex.

 

[skott101]

I had something similar on my Leon... flashing engine management light and random misfiring. It turned out to be the ECU corrupted with static. Unhook one of the battery leads and leave everything to discharge for about 10 mins. Reconnect and give it a try. It worked for me

 

[thomascy]

I think is maybe the coils or leads but some times is also the O2 sensor or (Lambda sensor if you want) and the cause is some times the moisture in the fuel tank.
Regards
Thomas
P.S if you remove one of battery’s pole (I prefer negative) and live the car there for some time the check engine lamp will switch off. But remember; hold the keys with you because the alarm will lock the car!!!!

 

[monkey73]

Thanks for the suggestions about resetting the ECU - will have to give it a try and see what happens.

Think Im gonna try and get the local garage to fit a new coil pack and see if that's any better - it's booked in at the dealers on the 15th - so hopefully one or the other can get it sorted !

The Skoda people suggested I had a software update which confused me a bit.....

Thanks again.